I think it's a brilliant idea, worst case scenario we pay the same price as if with the HSF, best case scenario we save some cash to spend on anything else in the new rig, all in all a win-win situation. Saying this with overclockers and enthusiasts in mind

Intel has a smaller packaging that costs them less, they can continue hold the same retail price as the last high end boxed unit. Environmentally it’s good as for them as they aren’t expending energy wasted in design, production, and shipping a cooler that never gets used. Probably like a bunch I’ve had that end up taking up space; you just tossed in the trash after 5 years. While the very green thing is the savings Intel makes on not supplying them, it’s like a $25 price increase for doing less that’s green!

Honestly, it is a very sensible strategy for all CPU’s to no longer include them, just sell the certification and right to add Intel/AMD “certified” to the cooler manufactures.

I agree, it sounds "bad" but how many people here use the stock coolers, not many if any. But that said, these are aimed at the ultra high end market so. . . really seems some are making a mountain out of a non existent mole hill.

Yea, that sounds good and dandy until customers start returning tons of CPUs because they didn't care to read that it did not come with a stock cooler. You got to remember that the majority of consumers use low-end to mid-level powered PCs. Enthusiasts/Overclockers only account for a very small margin in a rather large retail sales pool. That being said, the top 1 or 2 CPUs ship without HSF, sounds great. Kids who don't know their asshole from their elbow shouldn't be getting the highest end if they don't even care to overclock.
I'm actually still using the stock HSF for my E8400 because I don't need any more than what I have it clocked at. Gaming, which is the main decider in PC hardware for me personally, will not be improved that much if I OC it just a few more hundred MHZ.

I hope AMD and Intel do not include heatsinks either, I have a perfectly fine Zalman(which is rated for 350Ws of TDP) waiting for either Sandy Bridge-E or Bulldozer depends which one I buy that gets the highest score in x264 for the best price

Yea, that sounds good and dandy until customers start returning tons of CPUs because they didn't care to read that it did not come with a stock cooler. You got to remember that the majority of consumers use low-end to mid-level powered PCs. Enthusiasts/Overclockers only account for a very small margin in a rather large retail sales pool. That being said, the top 1 or 2 CPUs ship without HSF, sounds great. Kids who don't know their asshole from their elbow shouldn't be getting the highest end if they don't even care to overclock.
I'm actually still using the stock HSF for my E8400 because I don't need any more than what I have it clocked at. Gaming, which is the main decider in PC hardware for me personally, will not be improved that much if I OC it just a few more hundred MHZ.

I don't understand why people make this counter argument. This is what disclaimer stickers are for. I sincerely doubt that Intel or any company would sell a product like this that absolutely needs something else in order to run without warning people first. Even kids toys have "batteries not included" on the side.

I'll be anything they'll have a big red warning label on the outside of the box that says "STOP etc." and they'll probably have another one on the inside right across the processor itself.

As far as the overclocking thing, this is something else that I believe many people have misconceptions of. First of all "overclocking" is an intimidating word. The "over" part sounds like something you shouldn't do, like overheat. A lot of people wont try it just because of this. I guarantee you that there are a good percentage of people who buy the best just because they think if they do it'll save them from overclocking, or they may be ignorant to the whole process entirely.

Yea, that sounds good and dandy until customers start returning tons of CPUs because they didn't care to read that it did not come with a stock cooler. You got to remember that the majority of consumers use low-end to mid-level powered PCs..

Majority of users won't be building their own pc using high end cpus.Its still outrageous to me that anyone would build one and not consider cpu cooling. Hsf.... naah i'll save the money and buy led fans instead of the regular ones!!!--Anyone that falls into that category doesn't respect the culture and needs to be brought to reality by the smell of burnt silicon.

I never speculated on price, I would hope if there is no heatsink they would lower the price accordingly.

Out of date .. . no . .. anything I can use or is in use I keep the retail box for so I can sell it when it's no longer needed or when I upgrade as most people do. Why would I toss the stock heatsink . . . . I may not want it but the next person who i sell the chip to might.

I don't understand why people make this counter argument. This is what disclaimer stickers are for. I sincerely doubt that Intel or any company would sell a product like this that absolutely needs something else in order to run without warning people first. Even kids toys have "batteries not included" on the side.

As far as the overclocking thing, this is something else that I believe many people have misconceptions of. First of all "overclocking" is an intimidating word. The "over" part sounds like something you shouldn't do, like overheat. A lot of people wont try it just because of this. I guarantee you that there are a good percentage of people who buy the best just because they think if they do it'll save them from overclocking, or they may be ignorant to the whole process entirely.

I make the argument because it is the reality. In the PC world, there are few things that are missing from a package of let's say...a 2.5" to 3.5" converter for an SSD or no included SATA cables for a motherboard. You can't deny that there is a higher return rate or an increased number of complaint calls because of this.

However, this is the first time we are seeing CPUs shipped without HSFs. It doesn't matter if they put a big bullseye on it, there will be an increasing amount of customer returns because of this. Even if Intel can save this money, it WILL be passed onto pre-built systems via cyberpower/falcon nw or whatever other place builds machines and sells them as wholes...which in turn get passed down to us (depending on what HSFs are put onto them).
But hey....here's hoping they don't pass it down onto regular ole builders like you and me

Sorry no, this is not a valid counter. You can't compare a daily activity like drinking coffee that people are used to and thus take for granted to a once every few year thing that the people ignorant enough not to realize they need an extra part will be more than aware of a big warning label. These are not comparable.

Also SATA cables and the like aren't quite the same because these are relatively ubiquitous interchangeable parts. This isn't the same as something as something that's quasi-unique absolutely necessary to operate a piece of equipment.

Sorry no, this is not a valid counter. You can't compare a daily activity like drinking coffee that people are used to and thus take for granted to a once every few year thing that the people ignorant enough not to realize they need an extra part will be more than aware of a big warning label. These are not comparable.

Also SATA cables and the like aren't quite the same because these are relatively ubiquitous interchangeable parts. This isn't the same as something as something that's quasi-unique absolutely necessary to operate a piece of equipment.

I agree to a certain extent, but enthusiasts buying these high-end CPU's most likely are equipped with enough common sense to actually realize there's no HSF, since it's not exactly entry-level. Sources say theyll cost from 350-999 dollars, which is quite an investment without reading a description

I agree to a certain extent, but enthusiasts buying these high-end CPU's most likely are equipped with enough common sense to actually realize there's no HSF, since it's not exactly entry-level. Sources say theyll cost from 350-999 dollars, which is quite an investment without reading a description

twilyth

Guest

Sorry no, this is not a valid counter. You can't compare a daily activity like drinking coffee that people are used to and thus take for granted to a once every few year thing that the people ignorant enough not to realize they need an extra part will be more than aware of a big warning label. These are not comparable.

I can tell that you've never had to do user support. I understand why you think the argument is absurd, but 'absurd' is SOP when doing user support. You know all those old jokes about users calling tech support because their pc didn't work and it turns out the reason is that it wasn't turned on? Those aren't really jokes but true stories.

As a computer forum, I can guarantee that TPU gets an influx of help requests when these chips hit retail. I sincerely hope I'm wrong and I will admit it gladly if I am, but I fear that I will be right.

I can tell that you've never had to do user support. I understand why you think the argument is absurd, but 'absurd' is SOP when doing user support. You know all those old jokes about users calling tech support because their pc didn't work and it turns out the reason is that it wasn't turned on? Those aren't really jokes but true stories.

As a computer forum, I can guarantee that TPU gets an influx of help requests when these chips hit retail. I sincerely hope I'm wrong and I will admit it gladly if I am, but I fear that I will be right.

I don't care about this at all. In fact, I prefer it. I can't count how many stock heatsinks I have floating around, or have thrown away. I'd pay the same price for the cpu without the heatsink just for not having to deal with the damn things. I would've have been buying them in OEM packaging, but those come with a reduced warranty compared to retail.

And I don't know too many people that buy the very best cpu at retail that don't know what they are doing. The ones that don't know what they are doing usually just buy the very best OEM they can afford. Sure, there are going to be exceptions, but that's not the norm.

I understand them not bundlinging with the EE version due to it being enthusiast market, but for the other models you still have OEM partners that use the stock coolers, N then the Users who dont overclock.

I understand them not bundlinging with the EE version due to it being enthusiast market, but for the other models you still have OEM partners that use the stock coolers, N then the Users who dont overclock.